Work support,more particularly for household purposes



J. WOLFF 3,448,913 WORK fsuPPonT, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR nousmaow PURPOSES June 10, 1969 I Sheet of 2 Filed sem 196"? A Inventor.- Jodchim WOLF F by: M

his AH'ornej June 10, 1969 .J. WOLFF Y 3,448,913

WORK SUPPORT, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES Filed sa -L. 7, 1967 Sheet 3 of 2 Joachim WOLFF b MW 0. m

his Afforney Q Inventor.-

Pate

Int. Cl. B65d 5/ 06, 25 M 4; B6 h 75/24 Cl. 2'29-14 ABsrRAc'i" oi? DISiCLOSURE I A work support for household operations. The work support has a'b as'e sheefhaving a pairof intersecting edges. A pair of upright sheets have bottom edges joined to these intersecting edges,i'e'spectively, and the upright sheets are joined to each otherto=define a vertical arris'.

Background of the invention The invention relates to work supports as used for protecting an underlying table or the like from dirt produced during certain manual operations, such as household tasks.

For many different household tasks, such as opening tins, removing dirt from objects, or peeling potatoes, other vegetables or fruit, it is customary to place a \work support on which the articles, on which the tasks are being performed, can be rested, and which catches peelings or spilled tin'contents. For this purpose various means can be used, such as paper from a special pack, old newspaper, cloths, bowls or trays. After use the paper can be thrown away while the other objects used must be emptied and washed. In both cases it is inconvenient to have to dispose of the dirty material. When used for the purposes indicated, paper has the disadvantage that it takes up a large amount of space in the trash-bin, in which it is placed after use.

Summary 0 the invention One ohject of the present invention is to provide a work support which is specially adapted for use as such and, while not hindering a person performing various manual operations over it, prevents peelings or the like being strewn about on the table or the like on which the work support is placed.

The present invention consists in a work support, for purposes of the type described, comprising a base sheet and upright sheets, which are attached at their bottom edges to, at least, two of the edges of the base sheet and are joined ogether to form a vertical arris. The upright sheets can be folded together with the base sheet.

Owing to this shape of the work support, a niche-like structure is created, which can be used for manual tasks. The base sheet and the upright sheet are preferably made of one piece of material, that is to say, made without joints which might allow dirt deposited on the base sheet to run out onto the supporting table. Owing to the fact that the work support is preferably made so that it can be folded together, in the manner of a book, and therefore only take up a very small fraction of the space it takes up when ready for use, itcan be made so as to have a large height, width and breadth when in the working position. The dirt, even if in a large quantity, deposited in the work support can easily be removed since it can be gathered together in the corner.

'In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the base sheet is arranged to fold up between the upright sides. As a result, a packet-like form is achieved, which is technically advantageous.

'- 7 Claims I ice In accordance with a further feature of the invention, in ordentol'engthen theworking life of the "work support and; make it cleaner to-use'f'th'ezbase sheetandthe-inner facesof the uprightsheets 'are' coveredwith--anumber of superposedleaves-, 5 preferably "off water'proof paper';"- of which; after use} the top'rnos't'leaf is torn om folded up to form a closed bag with the dirt or othei -re ue pr'or duced during use in-vit,"and-'thrown away-a 1- *lhe superposed leaves' c'an f orma block and have lines of :weakness for facilitating tearing off. $1141 -Mean'scan'be -provided,":- such--as a band, for holding the 'work support in the folded positiorri -'The*basersh'eetcan be in' th'e form ofa segment of a circle; .Q- 1" W J: E;- .al' ....;.1. .X J L In accordance with a further feature of the nvention, we also provide a'block of; leaves for lininga work su port in accordance with the a'bovei' -The invention t-here fore irfcludes such a block of leaves, the block-having; at least, three intersectingwon-jointed sides" forming-three arrises, which run together to form a corner;

Brief description of drawings One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a work support in accordance with the invention, in the position ready for use.

FIG. 2 shows the work support folded together.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line IIIII'I of FIG. 1 on a larger scale.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the work support in accordance with the invention.

Description 0 a preferred embodiment The work support consists of a sector-shaped base sheet 1, from whose lateral edges 2 and 3 upright sheets 4 and 5, forming screens, extend. These sheets 4 and 5 are joined to define a common arris 6. As shown in FIG. 2, they can be folded together, the base sheet 1 being provided with a folding line 7 so that it can fold up between them, so that a pocket-like or book-like shape results. The work support can be held in the folded position by means such as a tab 8 (FIG. 1) or a band 9 (FIG. 2).

The base sheet and the inner faces of the upright sheets 4 and 5 carry superposed leaves 10, preferably of waterproof paper. These leaves are attached by staples or stitches on the work support, which can be made of hard or soft cardboard, synthetic resin or the like, provided with suitable fold lines. Instead of using staples 11, the block of superposed leaves can be attached by means of adhesive, as denoted by reference numeral .14 in FIG. 3. A perforation line 12 is provided in order to facilitate removal of the used top leaf 10" (FIG. 4) after use and enable the removed leaf to be formed into a bag enclosing the dirt which has been deposited.

This is shown in FIG. 4. As shown, separation of the topmost leaf 10' is started at the front edge of an upright sheet, and the leaf is formed into a bag enclosing the dirt in the corner of the niche formed by the support, the leaf also being pushed upwards, away from the front edge of the base sheet.

On the sheets 10 and on the band 9, direction for the use of the work support can be printed.

The leaves 10 can also be connected with the edge 13 by means of glue applied to the edges while held in alignment. They can also be connected in this manner with a covering or wrapping layer.

Various details described above and shown in the drawings can be changed within the purview of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A work support comprising a base sheet having a pair of intersecting edges, and a pair of upright sheets having bottom edges joined respectively to said edges of the base sheet, said upright sheets being joined together and defining a vertical arris, said base sheet is arranged to fold up between the upright sheets, and all of said sheets being flexible so that they can be folded together in such a way that they form a relatively flat ensemble in the shape of a book, which has sidewalls corresponding to said upright sheets.

2. A work support according to claim 1, in which superposed leaves cover the base sheet and inner faces of the upright sheets.

3. A work support according to claim 2, in which the leaves are of waterproof paper.

4. A work support according to claim 2, in 'which the superposed leaves form a block and have lines of weakness for facilitating tearing.

5. A work support according to claim 1, having means for holding it in a folded position.

6. A work support according to claim 2, in which the base sheet has the configuration of a segment of a circle.

7. A block of protective leaves, adapted for lining a work support as defined in claim 1, and having at least three sides intersecting each other, and defining at least three arrises converging to a corner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,257 4/1906 Kennedy. 1,222,450 4/ 1917 Nuckolls. 1,873,610 8/1932 Lyon. 2,248,687 7/1941 Nakahiro. 2,542,413 2/ 1951 Ibsch. 2,593,762 4/1952 Jones. 2,710,704 6/ 1955 Webke 220 X 2,844,247 7/ 8 Jones 206-5 6 3,165,201 1/1965 Woodman 20656 3,362,604 1/ 196 8 La Gostina 20665 X DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

